Thursday, July 21, 2011

First of all, this is completely unrelated to food, but my friend R just took me to see the musical, Wicked, as a belated birthday gift, and it was AMAZING! I'd always found the idea of approaching the Wizard of Oz story from a different perspective intriguing. But I'm pretty sure I'd never have taken the initiative to see it where it not for my friend. Wicked was funny, exciting, and heart-warming throughout its 2 1/2 hours. And when it ended I could swear only 15 minutes had passed (I'd been so engrossed). If this show comes near you or vice versa, I strongly recommend getting tickets!

Now let's return to our regularly scheduled programming... Today's post is the 5th and last in my A Lotta Chocolate series. When we started down this road I promised you chocolate treats that would be less conventional, though no less delicious. A French toast, macaron, chestnut cake roll, and couscous salad later, it's my hope that you consider that promise fulfilled. For our last outing I decided to also make good on another promise. One that I made to myself when I started this site: to make my own crepe cake one day! (Is it just me or is this series getting a bit French food-centric? 8p)

Well folks, I made it! And not just any crepe cake, but a bruléed mocha crepe cake with homemade chocolate liqueur sauce! There's no getting around the fact that all these delicate crepes take time to cook and layer up. Yet you'd be hard-pressed to find any cake that slices as prettily or embraces chocolate as thoroughly as this one. Not only is dark mocha ganache spread between 15+ crepe layers, each slice of this cake is served with a generous pouring of chocolate liqueur sauce.

XIAOLU'S NOTES: The chocolate liqueur recipe obviously makes much more than you need for the crepe cake, but it's so easy to make and so delicious in cocktails or sipped with whipped cream that I'd just go ahead and make the whole batch :).

Blend all the crepe ingredients just until smooth. Set aside for 30 minutes to rest.

Heat an 8-inch non-stick frying pan over medium heat. Brush with melted butter. Pour in enough batter to coat the base of the pan (swirl the pan to coat it evenly with batter immediately). Cook for 1 minute or until lightly golden and just set. Use a spatula to turn and cook for a further 30 seconds or until golden. Transfer to a plate. Repeat with remaining batter, reheating and greasing pan between batches.

To make filling, place chocolate, cream, coffee, and 4 tablespoons of sugar in a heatproof bowl over a small saucepan of simmering water. Use a spatula or heatproof spoon to stir for 5 minutes or until chocolate melts and mixture is smooth. Taste a tiny bit and add up to 2 more tablespoons of sugar if desired. If more sugar was added, heat the mixture until new sugar has dissolved. Remove from heat; cover with plastic wrap. Place in the fridge, stirring occasionally, for 30 minutes or until mixture cools and thickens.

Line a 6 to 7-inch springform pan with plastic wrap. Place a crêpe in the pan. Spread with a little filling. Continue layering with crêpes and filling, finishing with a crêpe. Cover with plastic wrap and place in the fridge until chilled and set (at least 3 hours and up to 1 day).

To make chocolate mocha sauce, combine chocolate, cream, coffee, liqueur, sugar, and honey in a heatproof bowl over a small saucepan of simmering water. Stir for 5 minutes or until sauce is smooth.

Turn the cake out onto a clean serving platter. Sprinkle the top of the cake evenly with the remaining 2 tablespoons of white sugar. Then melt the sugar evenly with a kitchen torch to form a crisp caramel topping. Allow to sit at least 5 minutes before serving.Use a sharp knife to cut into wedges. Place on serving plates and drizzle with hot sauce.

In a bowl, dissolve cocoa powder in boiling water. In a saucepan, bring sugar and 3/4 cup of water to a simmer, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Add sugar syrup to cocoa syrup. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a jar with a lid. Add the vodka, cover and refrigerate overnight. (It will keep up to 1 month, but will lose potency over time.).

If serving on its own, stir well and strain again through a fine-mesh sieve into a glass until 2/3 full. Top with lightly-sweetened whipped cream, or float heavy cream on top (by holding a spoon with the bowl down and the edge almost touching the liqueur in the glass then pouring cream slowly over the back of the spoon until a layer (1/8 to 1/4-inch deep) floats on top of the liqueur). Garnish with cocoa nibs or chocolate shavings.

I haven't made a crêpe cake before either, although there's a Martha Stewart one I'd like to try someday. I realize now that I haven't made crêpes since I lived in France:( This cake would maaaaaybe be too much for me, but only if I had a slice as large as in the above image.

I saw Wicked years ago when I was in Toronto with my orchestra - it was great! Of course, that was back when I wanted to spend my life as an actress. How the times have changed.

I've never made or even tasted a crepe cake before but yours looks amazing! I will definitely have to try it. Also love the idea of the chocolate liqueur, I think it'd be lovely mixed with Baileys and lots of ice. One to bookmark definitely!

If I would have known you were going to NY to see Wicked, I could have hooked you up!!! This is one of my favorite desserts my mother used to make, it wasn't often, because this cake is a labor of love, Mille Crepe Layer Cake is one of my favorite desserts, I would peel back each layer with a dessert spoon, delicately scooping out the raw cream, and then proceeded to the next layer. You are inspiring me to dig out my crepe maker!

Jealous! I've always wanted to see 'Wicked'! I hope I get to do that soon :) That crepe cake looks and sounds so interesting & delicious... Sounds like a lot of work too! Great job :) Thanks for sharing!

I missed 'Wicked' when it was here, but I've only heard good things about it. :)And the mocha crepe cake looks INCREDIBLE. You're a genius, to get the individual layers so nice and similar...and the flavors sound delicious.

Thanks, Shannon! I simply used an 8-inch skillet (not a crepe pan though that would be even better) and quickly shifted the pan as soon as I poured the batter onto it in order to spread the batter to cover the entire base. Hope that helps!